The Trump administration decision to pause funding for electric vehicle charging stations will have a ripple effect on clean energy projects across Texas.
The Federal Highway Administration last week told state transportation directors it's reviewing the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, effectively halting $3 billion.
Lori Clarke at the North Central Texas Council of Governments said the pause will impact as many as 60 EV charging projects planned across the state. She added there’s uncertainty over the environmental implications.
“I don't know that there's really a clear answer on how much it's going to delay overall improvement in air quality,” Clarke said.
Though some projects are delayed, Clarke said another 29 have already gone through the milestones necessary for construction. EV drivers can expect to see more charging stations on the highways between North Texas and the state’s major cities.
“People who are looking to road trip, you're going to start seeing those charging stations for free fairly soon in multiple directions,” Clarke said.
Clarke leads the region’s clean energy initiatives as part of the DFW Clean Cities program, which works to reduce transportation energy use and improve air quality. She said while there will be delays, the Trump administration’s decision won’t impact the long-term expansion of clean energy infrastructure.
“While this is a very large program, it is just a fraction, really, of what's happening on the ground in terms of charging infrastructure,” Clarke said. “[EV] charging is an amenity that a lot of developers see adds value to residents or customers.”
Cities across North Texas have been hurrying in recent years to build out EV infrastructure to keep up with growing demand. Almost 95,000 people drive EV’s in North Texas, according to state registration data. Asked what the halt on funding means, the city of Dallas declined to comment. A Denton spokesperson said the city got its EV funding from from local money and some state, and projects won't be affected by the federal pause.
However, the pause could have an impact on the $7,500 tax credit for EV drivers included in the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
“Those tax credits maybe have a question mark on them,” Clarke said.
The pause also puts into question federal money for Trump adviser Elon Musk’s company Tesla, which is based in Austin. As reported by NPR, Tesla received about $31 million in awards through the NEVI program.
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